Many people pay attention to their printers only when the ink has run out or if it refuses to cooperate with their printing activities. They are either too busy, lack the technical knowledge, or simply feel that it’s not that important to check on their printer regularly.
In fact, when people hear or see the term “Printer Maintenance”, you quickly see their eyes dull and you know that you’ve lost their attention completely. Hey, we can’t blame you! It does seem like a very technical and time-consuming thing to do.
Before we lose your attention completely, here are some simple ways you can ensure that your printer is working on optimal performance. These are things you can do while printing, so you won’t even have to spend that much time on them!
Update Your Printing Software Regularly
See that notification on your printer asking you to check for updates? Don’t ignore it. After all, it’s not going to take too much of your time for your machine to connect to the internet to see if there are any new drivers or software that it needs to run on optimal performance.
Clear Paper Jams – the RIGHT way!
What is the most common problem that you’ll encounter with your printer? Paper jams. Yes, it’s those moments when you are in a tug-of-war battle with your printer over a piece of paper.
But your printer is not your enemy, so there’s no point in forcibly yanking that piece of paper from it. This will only cause you more harm than good and we’re not just talking about your printer, but for you and your budget, too, because this can cause serious damage to your printing device.
ComputerHope.com advises that you need to first remove any loose paper from the loading tray. Pressing the resume button is always a good idea, since most printers are equipped to eject the jammed paper on its own.
If this doesn’t work, it means that you need to help your printer out. Start by removing the stuck paper, one sheet at a time. Once the paper jam is cleared, you’ll need to check if the printer carriage can move freely.
If you are unable to resolve the paper jam from the loading tray, this means that you may need to clear it from the rear of the printer. You will find some additional steps on how to clear a paper jam the right way in our blog on the 50 Common Printer Problems and How to Fix Them.
Clean It!
Just like your body, your printer also needs regular cleaning to keep it in tip-top shape. Clean the exterior (or outside) of your printer at least once a week with a damp cloth just to wipe away dust, dirt and other contaminants.
While you’re at it, open the hatch and remove the toner cartridge to clean the gears and rollers. If this is too complicated for you, use a small vacuum cleaner to remove the dirt and dust from inside with ease.
Store it Well
The location of your printer is important for its performance. And we’re not just talking about the aesthetics and how it contributes to the overall design of your home office area. Your printer should be protected from excessive heat or moisture, just like other electronics do.
Make sure that your printer is stored in a stable area to avoid it from falling over. Make sure to cover it to protect it from dust and other contaminants, along with direct sunlight or moisture.
See? That wasn’t too difficult, was it?
Proper printer maintenance can be achieved if you maintain cleanliness and care when you use it. These are simple reminders that we have been taught since we were children, so it isn’t rocket science. The most important thing is that you are mindful with your printer usage and that you take care of your household devices and technology at all times.